Southend-on-Sea street art festival is 'largest in Europe'

Artists from the UK but also Brazil, the Netherlands and Spain were expected

More than 200 artists are expected in Southend-on-Sea over the weekend for what organisers have described as the biggest street art festival in Europe.

Special guests from across the globe, including from Brazil, Italy and Spain, were expected for Southend City Jam.

About 100 walls are due to painted, including a collection of cube installations at Warrior Square.

"It's magical to watch it," said Jacqui Dallimore, chairman of the Southend Tourism Partnership.

Painting has already started on the tower above the High Street JobCentre office

The event is due to take place between 10:00 and 17:00 Friday-Sunday

Some of the painting started on Wednesday - including at the tower above the city's JobCentre and in Clarence Road - but festivities begin in earnest on Friday.

Southend is laying claim to holding the largest street art event on the continent because Bristol's Upfest is taking a year's break because of rising costs.

The festival in Essex has been held twice previously.

The headline artists include Odisy, Gent48 and Paul Monsters from the UK, and Liam Bonani from Brazil, Asur from Portugal and Jeks from the USA.

More than 200 artists were expected over the course of the weekend